Saadoun, an Orange County native whose father emigrated from Lebanon, said he opened the store a decade ago in hopes of preserving the Arabic language for families with deep roots in the Middle East.

"It definitely keeps the culture alive," said Saadoun, 28. "I grew up being both Lebanese and American, but it's good to learn as many cultures as you can, especially in Southern California."

Saadoun's attitude toward dual cultures is widely embraced by those living and working in the Little Arabia neighborhood straddling the Anaheim-Garden Grove border, concentrated along a 3-mile stretch of Brookhurst Street between La Palma and Katella avenues.

Little Arabia has grown beyond the stereotype of simply having one of the region's largest concentration of hookah lounges. The ethnic enclave is home to 25,000 people of Middle Eastern descent aspiring to preserve modest traditions while also thriving in Southern California.

Bookstores sell books written in Arabic, while travel shops book trips to the Middle East. Muslim worshippers gather for services at the mosques that have sprung up in Anaheim and Garden Grove. Embroidered scarves and long dresses adorn the windows of clothing stores.

Most importantly, the cultural hub serves as a network for Middle Eastern immigrants and refugees seeking support from people who speak their native language, said Yasmin Nouh, a spokeswoman for the Little Arabia-based chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

"The trend has been that immigrants come here and settle for a few months or years before moving on for other reasons – bigger family, a better job or a bigger house," Nouh said. "In that way, Little Arabia has served as a kind of launching pad for a good amount of its immigrant population."

About half of the storefronts lining Brookhurst were vacant 15 years ago, when Ahmad Alam started printing a map of the area he called Arab Town in his weekly publication, The Arab World Newspaper.

Alam said he wanted to attract Arabic-speaking businesses and residents to the area so that his newspaper could be easily distributed within a concentrated neighborhood.

"It sounds a little selfish, but I've got to have a community in one small area in order for me to have a high circulation and fresh news," said Alam, who moved to Southern California from his native Lebanon. "Little Arabia doesn't look so big, but it's becoming something to the people who visit here."

Over time, Alam purchased wide swaths of Little Arabia and leased spaces to tenants hailing from throughout the Middle East, including his brother Mo Alam, who owns the Forn Al Hara restaurant and bakery.

Among its most popular items, the affordable eatery serves up generous portions of spinach turnovers and flatbreads topped with cheese, chicken and oregano.

"I like the fact that this area is becoming popular with people from outside the Arab community," Mo Alam said as he slid a piping hot flatbread out of his oven.

The Dalati family also has purchased large parcels of property in Little Arabia. The community has attempted to flex its political muscle through real estate agent Bill Dalati, who unsuccessfully ran for City Council; he recently served on a citizens panel that provided a series of recommendations for the future of Anaheim's elections.

"Even though it was a relatively small Arab community, my brother Bill, like many others, recognized its potential for growth to become the strong culturally oriented economic force it is today," said Ali Dalati, 26, a law student whose family emigrated from Syria more than 30 years ago.ï¿½ "I feel we are well past the introductions, as Orange County is now our home."

Just across Brookhurst from a Dalati shopping center sits Al Anwar Islamic Fashion, where the windows display Muslim head scarves known as hijabs. Shelves are lined with long dresses and gifts imported from Jordan, United Arab Emirates and Kuwait.

"These clothes aren't available in Macy's or other department stores," said Ahmad Sarsak, who opened the shop 20 years ago, before the neighborhood was known as Little Arabia.

"I think a lot of people mistakenly believe that women wear these clothes by force by men," Sarsak said. "It's out of respect for the beauty of the woman and to be a part of the community like in any other religion."

A smattering of small grocery stores catering to the Arabic community have sprung up in the area over the years, and developer Mohammad Kaskas converted a shuttered hardware store into the Fresh Choice Marketplace in Garden Grove.

The sprawling supermarket opened nine months ago, offering native Middle Eastern foods and a food court that serves up Arabic, Persian, Indian, Asian and Mexican food. Kaskas, a Palestinian who moved to the area from Jerusalem in 1985, said he also made sure the store is regularly equipped with halal and kosher foods.

"I wanted to open this up for the whole community, cater to all the people, make it international," Kaskas said. "This country has given me many opportunities and I want to give it right back."

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